Mandela’s great-grandson dies

NELSON Mandela’s infant great-grandson Zenawe Zibuyile Mandela has died after being born three months prematurely, the father’s employer said today (June 28).

The baby was born last week to Zoleka Mandela, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate’s granddaughter, and her partner, Sekoati Tsubane, an actor on the South African soap opera 7de Laan.

“It is with great regret that we report the passing of Sekoati and Zoleka’s baby boy in the weekend. Little Zenawe was born three months prematurely and died from related complications,” the programme said in a statement.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation declined to comment, and simply updated his family tree on its website to show that Zenawe had passed away.

Last June, Mandela lost another great-grandchild, 13-year-old Zenani, when she was killed in a car accident in Johannesburg on her way home from the kick-off concert celebrating the opening of the World Cup.

The anti-apartheid struggle hero, who turns 93 next month, has three surviving children, 17 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, according to his foundation.